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Kris Kristofferson - Why Me Lord Chords

DATA-DRIVENWhich Chord Comes Next?Learn the most likely chord transitions on guitar and start playing songs with confidence.
ChordsD7, Em, G, G7, C, Em7
Strumming↓-↓↑-↑↓↑

Before you play, tune your guitar and use the tools below to set up your view and flow.

[Opening]
I favour using [D7]for the D7 chords but your choice.
Barre chords [D7] [Em], [G], [G7]may make this simpler

[verse 2]
Why me [G]Lord, what have [G7]I ever [C]done
To deserve even [G]one
Of the pleasures I’ve [D7]known [Em]
Tell me [G]Lord, what did [G7]I ever [C]do
That was worth loving [G]you
Or the [D7]kindness you’ve [G]shown. [G7]

[chorus]
[C]Lord help me Jesus, I’ve [G]wasted it [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus I know what I [G]am [G7]
[C]Now that I know that I’ve [G]need you [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus, my soul’s in your [G]hand. [D7]*

[verse 3]
Try me [G]Lord, if you [G7]think there’s a [C]way
I can try to re[G]pay
All I’ve taken from [D7]you [Em]
Maybe [G]Lord, I can [G7]show someone [C]else
What I’ve been through [G]myself
On my [D7]way back to [G]you. [G7]

[chorus]
[C]Lord help me Jesus, I’ve [G]wasted it [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus I know what I [G]am [G7]
[C]Now that I know that I’ve [G]need you [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus, my soul’s in your [G]hand.

[chorus]
[C]Lord help me Jesus, I’ve [G]wasted it [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus I know what I [G]am [G7]
[C]Now that I know that I’ve [G]need you [Em]so
Help me [D7]Jesus, my soul’s in your [G]hand.

[Closing]
[D7]Jesus, my soul’s in your [C]ha[Em7]aa[D7]aa[G]nd

SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookDiscover the most-used three-chord combinations in songs and build real command on guitar.
14,015 TRANSITIONS ANALYZED#1 at 23%: Which Transition?Master guitar today with the most repeated high-impact chord transitions.
ArtistKris Kristofferson
AlbumJesus Was a Capricorn
GenresCountry
Year1972
KeyD
DifficultyIntermediate

How to play Why Me Lord on Guitar (Step-by-step)

Kris Kristofferson - Why Me Lord on guitar requires 6 chords and 9 core chord transitions. You can find the full step-by-step guide below. Before you start, tune your instrument. The song uses the ↓-↓↑-↑↓↑ pattern; practice it muted first, or simplify to downstrokes while you learn the changes.

Why Me Lord uses these transitions most often: C → G (10), D7 → G (10), and G → G7 (10). These transitions may feel a little challenging at first, but with steady practice you can play this song quickly.When you are ready, begin with D7 - Em chord transition.

1. D7 → Em chord transition

Guitar D7 chord diagram Fingering: x-x-0-2-1-2Guitar D7 chord diagram
Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram

To move from D7 to Em;

  1. While playing D7, lift your index finger from B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to D string fret 2.
D7 to Em

2. Em → G chord transition

Guitar Em chord diagram Fingering: 0-2-2-0-0-0Guitar Em chord diagram
Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram

To move from Em to G;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on E string fret 3.
  2. Slide your ring finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Place index finger on A string fret 2.
Em to G

3. G → G7 chord transition

Guitar G chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-3Guitar G chord diagram
Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram

To move from G to G7;

  1. Keep index finger on A string fret 2.
  2. Keep middle finger on E string fret 3.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 1.
G to G7

4. G7 → C chord transition

Guitar G7 chord diagram Fingering: 3-2-0-0-0-1Guitar G7 chord diagram
Guitar C chord diagram Fingering: x-3-2-0-1-0Guitar C chord diagram

To move from G7 to C;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to D string fret 2.
  3. Lift your ring finger from E string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 3.
G7 to C

5. C → G chord transition

To move from C to G;

  1. Lift your index finger from B string fret 1 and place it on A string fret 2.
  2. Slide your middle finger from D string fret 2 to E string fret 3.
  3. Lift your ring finger from A string fret 3 and place it on E string fret 3.

6. G → D7 chord transition

To move from G to D7;

  1. Lift your index finger from A string fret 2 and place it on B string fret 1.
  2. Slide your middle finger from E string fret 3 to G string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger on E string from fret 3 to fret 2.

7. D7 → C chord transition

To move from D7 to C;

  1. Keep index finger on B string fret 1.
  2. Lift your middle finger from G string fret 2 and place it on D string fret 2.
  3. Slide your ring finger from E string fret 2 to A string fret 3.

8. C → Em7 chord transition

To move from C to Em7;

  1. While playing C, first lift your index finger and ring finger.
  2. Lift your middle finger from D string fret 2 and place it on A string fret 2.

9. Em7 → D7 chord transition

To move from Em7 to D7;

  1. Lift your middle finger from A string fret 2 and place it on G string fret 2.
  2. Place index finger on B string fret 1.
  3. Place ring finger on E string fret 2.

Why Me Lord chord transition analysis

A short, data-driven summary of the chord flow in Why Me Lord.

  • Why Me Lord includes 68 chord transitions, 9 of them unique.
  • These transitions represent 0.02% of all chord transitions in Chordier.
  • Why Me Lord contains 1 of the top 10 transitions across Chordier.
  • These transition patterns show how Why Me Lord connects to the rest of Chordier. Mastering them helps you move to similar songs faster.
    After G, the most likely next chords across Chordier are C (25%), D (24%), and Am (13%).
    • G → C: 25%
    • G → Em: 9%
    After D7, the most likely next chords across Chordier are G (51%), G7 (18%), and C (6%).
    • D7 → G: 51%
    • D7 → C: 6%
SONG DATA3 Chords, 200 Chains, 1 BookThe 200 most popular three-chord chains from real songs. See which songs use each chain and expand your repertoire with patterns that actually matter.